ATI CAPSTONE NURSING EXAM – PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
*Core Domains*
*Medical-Surgical Nursing*
*Maternal-Newborn Care*
*Nursing Care of Children*
*Mental Health Nursing*
*Pharmacology and Parenteral Therap
*Management of Care and Leadership*
*Community Health Nursing*
*Nutrition and Fundamentals*
*Introduction*
The ATI Capstone Nursing Exam serves as a comprehensive
evaluative tool designed to gauge a student’s readiness for
professional licensure and practice. This assessment synthesizes
essential nursing knowledge across the lifespan, focusing on
critical thinking, clinical judgment, and safe patient-centered care.
The exam utilizes multiple-choice and complex scenario-based
questions to mirror the demands of real-world clinical
,environments. Candidates are assessed on their ability to apply
foundational theory to practice, navigate ethical dilemmas, and
adhere to regulatory standards. By emphasizing decision-making
and prioritization, this exam ensures that the transitioning nurse
possesses the competency required to provide high-quality,
evidence-based care in diverse healthcare settings.
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is 24 hours postoperative
following a total hip arthroplasty. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Maintain the client's legs in an adducted position.
B. Encourage the client to use a low-seated toilet.
C. Place a pillow between the client's legs when turning.
D. Instruct the client to lean forward when sitting in a chair.
🟢 C. Place a pillow between the client's legs when turning.
🔴 RATIONALE: Using an abduction pillow or a regular pillow
between the legs prevents adduction of the hip, which can lead to
dislocation of the new prosthesis.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who has a chest tube connected
to a water-seal drainage system. The nurse notes continuous
, bubbling in the water-seal chamber. Which of the following
should the nurse suspect?
A. The system is functioning normally.
B. There is an air leak in the system.
C. The lung has fully re-expanded.
D. The suction pressure is set too high.
🟢 B. There is an air leak in the system.
🔴 RATIONALE: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
indicates an air leak between the client and the water seal,
whereas intermittent bubbling is expected with expiration or
coughing.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client who has
heart failure. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take first?
A. Check the client's blood pressure.
B. Monitor the client's serum potassium level.
C. Assess the apical pulse for one full minute.
D. Review the client's latest digoxin level.
🟢 C. Assess the apical pulse for one full minute.
, 🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse must assess the apical pulse for 60
seconds prior to administration; if the heart rate is less than
60/min, the medication should be withheld and the provider
notified.
4. A nurse is caring for a client in the first stage of labor. The
nurse observes the umbilical cord protruding from the vagina.
Which of the following actions should the nurse perform first?
A. Attempt to push the cord back into the uterus.
B. Place the client in a Trendelenburg or knee-chest position.
C. Wrap the cord tightly in dry sterile gauze.
D. Increase the rate of the intravenous fluids.
🟢 B. Place the client in a Trendelenburg or knee-chest position.
🔴 RATIONALE: Positioning the client in a Trendelenburg or knee-
chest position uses gravity to shift the fetus off the umbilical cord,
relieving compression and maintaining fetal oxygenation.
5. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is
receiving heparin by continuous IV infusion. Which of the
following results should the nurse report to the provider?
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
*Core Domains*
*Medical-Surgical Nursing*
*Maternal-Newborn Care*
*Nursing Care of Children*
*Mental Health Nursing*
*Pharmacology and Parenteral Therap
*Management of Care and Leadership*
*Community Health Nursing*
*Nutrition and Fundamentals*
*Introduction*
The ATI Capstone Nursing Exam serves as a comprehensive
evaluative tool designed to gauge a student’s readiness for
professional licensure and practice. This assessment synthesizes
essential nursing knowledge across the lifespan, focusing on
critical thinking, clinical judgment, and safe patient-centered care.
The exam utilizes multiple-choice and complex scenario-based
questions to mirror the demands of real-world clinical
,environments. Candidates are assessed on their ability to apply
foundational theory to practice, navigate ethical dilemmas, and
adhere to regulatory standards. By emphasizing decision-making
and prioritization, this exam ensures that the transitioning nurse
possesses the competency required to provide high-quality,
evidence-based care in diverse healthcare settings.
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is 24 hours postoperative
following a total hip arthroplasty. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Maintain the client's legs in an adducted position.
B. Encourage the client to use a low-seated toilet.
C. Place a pillow between the client's legs when turning.
D. Instruct the client to lean forward when sitting in a chair.
🟢 C. Place a pillow between the client's legs when turning.
🔴 RATIONALE: Using an abduction pillow or a regular pillow
between the legs prevents adduction of the hip, which can lead to
dislocation of the new prosthesis.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who has a chest tube connected
to a water-seal drainage system. The nurse notes continuous
, bubbling in the water-seal chamber. Which of the following
should the nurse suspect?
A. The system is functioning normally.
B. There is an air leak in the system.
C. The lung has fully re-expanded.
D. The suction pressure is set too high.
🟢 B. There is an air leak in the system.
🔴 RATIONALE: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
indicates an air leak between the client and the water seal,
whereas intermittent bubbling is expected with expiration or
coughing.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client who has
heart failure. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take first?
A. Check the client's blood pressure.
B. Monitor the client's serum potassium level.
C. Assess the apical pulse for one full minute.
D. Review the client's latest digoxin level.
🟢 C. Assess the apical pulse for one full minute.
, 🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse must assess the apical pulse for 60
seconds prior to administration; if the heart rate is less than
60/min, the medication should be withheld and the provider
notified.
4. A nurse is caring for a client in the first stage of labor. The
nurse observes the umbilical cord protruding from the vagina.
Which of the following actions should the nurse perform first?
A. Attempt to push the cord back into the uterus.
B. Place the client in a Trendelenburg or knee-chest position.
C. Wrap the cord tightly in dry sterile gauze.
D. Increase the rate of the intravenous fluids.
🟢 B. Place the client in a Trendelenburg or knee-chest position.
🔴 RATIONALE: Positioning the client in a Trendelenburg or knee-
chest position uses gravity to shift the fetus off the umbilical cord,
relieving compression and maintaining fetal oxygenation.
5. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is
receiving heparin by continuous IV infusion. Which of the
following results should the nurse report to the provider?
